Adolescent girls' migration and its impact on early marriage: Qualitative findings in Mali.

ABSTRACT: Adolescent girls in West Africa are migrating in search of educational and livelihood opportunities. In Mali, early marriage (before the legal age of 16) is a common practice. This paper builds on prior research on female migration that focused on the direct influences of migration on marriage and explores the wider social impact of rising female migration in sending communities by examining direct and indirect effects and intended and unintended consequences. This study examines perceptions about migration among girls and their parents including how it influences marital timing, marriage preparations, marriage practices, and marital relations. Qualitative data were collected from 140 adolescent girls and 115 parents of adolescent girls in rural areas in focus group discussions (FGDs) (n =

SUBMITTER: Engebretsen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7083269 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature